UNESCO / Kingdoms Institute: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – AlUla Fellowships Programme 2025

If you are a heritage professional, researcher, or conservationist looking to contribute to world heritage preservation while gaining international experience, applications are now open for the UNESCO / Kingdoms Institute AlUla Fellowships Programme 2025. This prestigious 24-month fellowship, developed in partnership between UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), offers a unique opportunity to work in the fields of heritage research, conservation, and management while engaging in international rotations across UNESCO offices and cultural institutions worldwide. Read on for details.

🧭 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (AlUla) + UNESCO duty stations worldwide

• Target Group: Early- to mid-career professionals aged 25–40 from invited UNESCO Member States and Associate Members

• Fields of Focus:

  • World Heritage Site Management

  • Archaeology, Built Heritage & Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • Heritage Conservation & Emergency Preparedness

  • Oases as Cultural Landscapes (risk management and conservation)

• Value & Coverage: Travel costs, stipends, medical insurance, and institutional support provided

• Duration: 24 months (3 rotations)

• Application Deadline: 22 September 2025 (midnight CET)

• Start Date: Early 2026

• Eligible To: Nationals of 103 UNESCO Member States and 8 Associate Members (see full list below)

🎓 Fellowship Overview

The AlUla Fellowships Programme is designed to strengthen capacity in world heritage management and conservation, with a particular focus on emergency preparedness and response. Selected fellows (10 in total) will participate in three structured rotations:

1. Rotation 1 (6 months): Research-based fellowship at the Kingdoms Institute, AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

   Fellows will engage in heritage research and conservation work directly in the field.

2. Rotation 2 (12 months): Sponsored traineeship under UNESCO’s Culture Programme at one of its global duty stations, including Paris HQ, Amman, Cairo, Bangkok, Abuja, Kingston, Harare, Yaoundé, Almaty, among others.

3. Rotation 3 (6 months): Work placement with a Partner National Commission for UNESCO or a designated cultural/heritage entity (museum, site, cultural institution). Placements will be tailored to fellows’ backgrounds and institutional needs.

This combination of fieldwork, policy-level exposure, and institutional experience makes the programme a unique professional pathway in global heritage management.

💰 Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive:

• Fully funded travel to and from fellowship locations.

• Monthly stipends to cover living expenses during all rotations.

• Comprehensive medical insurance throughout the fellowship period.

• Institutional support and supervision at each rotation site.

• Opportunities to network with heritage experts, UNESCO officials, and cultural institutions globally.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold nationality of an invited UNESCO Member State or Associate Member (see list below).

• Be between 25 and 40 years old at the time of application.

• Hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in relevant fields (heritage, culture, archaeology, conservation, architecture, museum studies, anthropology, art history, international relations, social sciences, etc.).

  • A Bachelor’s degree + 2 years of professional experience may also be accepted.

• Have excellent English proficiency (oral & written).

• Knowledge of another UNESCO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an advantage.

🌍 Eligible Countries

A total of 111 States (103 Member States + 8 Associate Members) are eligible, spanning Africa, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Europe.

Africa (47 States)

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Arab States (19 States)

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Asia & the Pacific (18 States, 2 Associate Members)

China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, New Caledonia* (Associate), Tokelau* (Associate).

Latin America & the Caribbean (16 States, 6 Associate Members)

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, plus Anguilla*, Aruba*, British Virgin Islands*, Cayman Islands*, Curaçao*, Montserrat* (Associates).

Europe (3 States)

France, Italy, Malta.

📝 Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted via email to alulafellowship@unesco.org before 22 September 2025 (midnight CET).

📂 Required Documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages).

• Certified copy of highest diploma/degree.

• Completed Application Form 

• Motivation Letter (1 page, English).

• Proposal Form – max. 3 pages, PDF format.

• 2-minute self-introduction video (English, MP4 under 50MB).

• Copy of passport (valid beyond 31 July 2026).

• If documents are in another language, attach notarized English translation.

🔍 Selection Process

• Applications will be reviewed jointly by UNESCO & RCU.

• Selection is based on academic/professional qualifications, motivation, and alignment with fellowship themes.

• Gender equality and cultural diversity will be strongly considered.

• Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews.

• All applicants (successful or not) will be notified via email.

🔗 Official Link

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